Experts, patients provide updates at pancreatic cancer conference

About 200 people attended the pancreatic cancer conference at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., on Nov 3. It was inspiring to meet the 50 cancer survivors and their friends and family who attended. In honor of the conference and of pancreatic awareness, Mayo Clinic was lit up in purple lights for the day.

I thought I'd update you on what we learned from the Mayo Clinic experts and patients who presented at the conference. Here are a few highlights:

Pancreatic cancer can be treated more effectively if it is detected early. New ways to screen for pancreatic cancer through imaging and other methods are being developed. Watch this Mayo Clinic video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gQI4lqJqGA&feature=youtu.be.

Islet cell (neuroendocrine) pancreatic cancer is rare and can respond to targeted therapies.

Nutritional strategies are important for pancreatic cancer patients — many people experience side effects such as diabetes, impaired digestion and vitamin/mineral absorption problems because of the cancer or treatment.

Researchers are discovering new oncogenes or gene mutations with pancreatic cancer that may help develop new targeted treatments.

New early phase clinical trials for the treatment of metastatic pancreatic cancer are available — call the clinical trials referral office at Mayo Clinic Cancer Center at 507-538-7623 or visit www.clinicaltrials.mayo.edu.

Cancer protective strategies that have been found for pancreatic cancer include taking low-dose aspirin and eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables.

Fatigue, insomnia and pain are the most common side effects of pancreatic cancer. Strategies to address these include mind-body therapies, exercise and acupuncture.

Support and advocacy are vital to pancreatic cancer patients and their families — look for resources and support from the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCan) at www.pancan.org

My husband is scheduled for the whipple surgery in a couple weeks. They caught it early due to a kidney stone attack, &amp; found the growth on his pancreas. They said it is not cancerous but the size and the DNA make up can turn cancerous. Is this the proper procedure you normally take? Please advise. thanks!

Donna

November 17, 2012 10:09 a.m.

In your article you mention &quot;Pancreatic cancer can be treated more effectively if it is detected early&quot; Which is the exam or exams that the Doctor may order to know that the pancreas is working fine?
After 7 months of exams, open laparoscopy and wrong treatments, finally my husband was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in April 2010 at Mayo Clinic in Arizona. Since then, he has received chemo and thanks God, he is ok!

Sue

November 16, 2012 8:41 a.m.

I had laparascopic whipple in 11/10 with good results...but there is the constant adjustments of foods to avoid and to eat. I'd love to read more details about the bulleted items you noted which were discussed in the conference. Are they available online? Thanks so much for taking the time to provide this supportive updates!

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